Credit: decolonizepalestine’s BDS 101 slides.

What is BDS?

The Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a non-violent human rights campaign formed in 2005 by over 170 Palestinian non-governmental organizations, unions and civil society groups. The aim of the movement is to campaign for and protect the rights of Palestinians through the application of international pressure on Israel until it complies with international law. While the BDS movement is decentralized, and functions through local organizations, groups and grassroots efforts in each area, the BDS National Council (BNC), along with The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) serve as a compass for the movement. They introduce guidelines and revisions, as well as deliberate on particularly tricky cases.

What are the goals of BDS?

The BDS movement has three goals, which can be found in its call to action:

1. Ending Israeli occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall.

2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality.

3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

As you can see, the goals of the BDS movement are simply the consistent application of international law. Any other intentions or objectives attributed to the movement are the result of projecting them onto it, and is often by bad faith actors intent on smearing any kind of Palestinian resistance.

Supporting:

Palestinian-Owned:

  • [Coming soon]

Colorado businesses that accepted the Apartheid-free pledge:

  • [Coming soon]

Boycotting:

On the BDS list:

  • McDonald’s. Donated thousands of free meals to the IDF.

  • Starbucks. Sued Workers United union for standing in solidarity with Palestine.

  • Sabra Hummus. Donated food packages to the Golani brigade of the Israeli Defence Forces.

  • Hewlett-Packard (HP). Serves advanced technology to the Israeli Defence Forces and administers the electronic infrastructure of the Israeli Navy. They also supplied Israel the Basel system, which is a biometric sensor control system employed at military checkpoints.

  • Sodastream. Main factory is in Mishor Edomin, in Occupied West Bank, enjoying cheap land and water confiscated from indigenous Palestinians.

Colorado businesses that refused Apartheid-free pledge:

  • [Coming soon]